In the main event of UFC 299, Sean O’Malley successfully defended his bantamweight title against Marlon Vera in a rematch that was much anticipated following their first encounter in 2020, where Vera emerged victorious. O’Malley, who has been on a winning spree, aimed to cement his status in the UFC by overcoming the only fighter to have defeated him previously. The co-main event saw Dustin Poirier, the former interim lightweight champion, face Benoit Saint-Denis. Additionally, in an earlier bout of the evening, Jack Della Maddalena achieved a knockout victory against Gilbert Burns in the third round of their fight, subsequently challenging the unbeaten Shavkat Rakhmonov.

Meanwhile, in the world of Formula 1, Max Verstappen secured another victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, marking his ninth consecutive win. However, his triumph was overshadowed by ongoing issues within the Red Bull Racing team. Allegations of inappropriate behavior against team principal Christian Horner and a potential suspension for motorsport adviser Helmut Marko sparked controversy, with Verstappen’s intervention reportedly preventing Marko’s suspension. This has led to speculation about internal power struggles and the future stability of the team. The ongoing saga at Red Bull raises questions about the impact of internal dynamics on the team’s performance and the broader implications for the sport as the Formula 1 season progresses.